Newsletter

Parker: Romney's higher road

Forget “horses and bayonets.” The most important word uttered during the third presidential debate was “peace.”

Mitt Romney used it several times to set the tone for what his foreign policy would be. Anyone who was expecting bring-it-on rhetoric was disappointed.

This may include some Republicans who had hoped to witness another round on the attack in Benghazi and the Obama administration’s mixed messages in the aftermath, but Romney chose not to go there.

The real point of Romney’s rendition of commander in chief was to reveal himself as the stalwart of America’s power to promote peace and freedom through strength, character and an unyielding defense of American principles.

Without ever using the word, he was laying out a blueprint of American exceptionalism. Romney reiterated his belief that the United States has a vital role in leading the world, in providing succor to nations trying to gain a toehold in democracy, in helping those who would overthrow oppressive governments.

He got his best shot at Barack Obama when he quoted the president’s comments during what Romney characterized as an “apology” tour in 2009, in which Obama conceded that the United States has at times “dictated” to other nations and been “dismissive” and “derisive.”

Interestingly, where Romney declined to use “exceptionalism,” a belief in which Obama does not share, Obama inserted a different term: “America remains the one indispensable nation,” he said. This has a nice ring to it. How could the world do without an America? We may yet find out.

The low point of the evening was when the president sarcastically schooled his opponent on the need, or lack thereof, for Navy ships. Romney was asserting his plan to rebuild the Navy, which he said (incorrectly) is smaller than at any time since 1917. Rather than correct Romney’s figures, Obama treated him like a child.

The president got some laughs, but probably no new votes. Snark is a winning trait on Twitter, but not so much in the Oval Office.

The higher road belonged to Romney, who succeeded in his mission, which was to remind Americans that their nation is more than indispensable. It is exceptional — and they need a president who believes it.